Program Manager II

Job Description

Job Description

Please Note:  To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At  CesiumAstro , we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are looking to add a Program Manager II to our team. If you enjoy working in a startup environment and managing multiple fast paced projects at once, we would like to hear from you. 

In this position, you will serve as a trusted program management resource, advancing successful program execution through integrated planning, customer engagement, and cross-functional leadership. This role strengthens program performance by overseeing complex programs or major program elements, evaluating program risks, coordinating multiple functional organizations, and implementing execution strategies that support customer commitments and business objectives.

Working cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, Product Management, Business Development, and customers, this role supports program execution, customer communications, risk management, and operational performance while ensuring programs are delivered in accordance with contractual requirements, business objectives, and customer expectations.

We are seeking a Program Manager II to lead our Mission Systems ground segment projects, ensuring on-time readiness for mission success.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee execution of assigned programs by developing and maintaining integrated program plans, schedules, milestones, and deliverables.
• Coordinate program execution activities to ensure alignment with cost, schedule, technical, quality, and contractual objectives.
• Evaluate program performance and implement corrective actions that address risks, schedule impacts, and execution challenges.
• Support successful execution of product development, manufacturing, production, and customer delivery activities.
• Serve as the primary customer interface for assigned programs regarding program execution, schedule, contractual commitments, and performance.
• Lead customer meetings, program reviews, executive briefings, and status reporting activities.
• Build productive working relationships with customers and internal stakeholders that support successful program execution.
• Communicate program status, risks, mitigation strategies, and key milestones to leadership and customers.
• Coordinate activities across Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, Product Management, and Business Development to achieve program objectives.
• Facilitate integrated product team meetings, program reviews, and cross-functional planning sessions.
• Evaluate program risks, issues, dependencies, and resource requirements while coordinating mitigation strategies.
• Support proposal transition, contract kickoff, production readiness, and product delivery activities, as applicable.
• Drive implementation of program management process improvements and operational initiatives.
• Maintain program documentation, integrated schedules, risk registers, action item trackers, and performance metrics.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of program management methodologies, reporting, and operational execution.
• Support compliance with contractual requirements, company procedures, and customer expectations.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Program Management, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or a related field with 8–12 years of related experience, or a Master's degree with 6–8 years of related experience in program management, project management, operations, engineering, manufacturing, or a related discipline. 
• Advanced knowledge of program management principles, project planning, risk management, customer relationship management, and program execution practices.
• Comprehensive understanding of program lifecycle management, integrated product development, production planning, operational execution, and cross-functional program coordination.
• Proficiency in evaluating program requirements, integrated schedules, technical dependencies, financial performance, and execution risks to determine effective program solutions.
• Thorough understanding of program management tools, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, performance reporting, contractual requirements, and program planning methodologies.
• Experience managing established development and production programs involving major components or small to medium systems, coordinating multiple business functions, and supporting customer commitments.
• Sound judgment when resolving complex program challenges, evaluating technical and operational tradeoffs, prioritizing resources, and balancing cost, schedule, performance, and customer requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, e.g. Oracle, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, or equivalent platforms.
• Program and project management applications, e.g. Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Jira, Primavera, or equivalent applications
• Business intelligence and reporting tools, e.g. Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent applications.

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.  Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.  

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.